i have to say i wasn't expecting otherwise, but i'm still dissapointed. -brian

straight offa cyclingnews.com:

Definite: no Cipollini in Tour
The Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.), organisers of the Tour de France, today finalised its selection of teams for the upcoming Tour. The 22 teams already selected through UCI rankings and wild card invitations will remain in place, meaning that Mario Cipollini's World Champion's jersey and the Domina Vacanze team will not be seen in the Centenary Tour.

The A.S.O. issued a press release early on Monday evening to indicate this, noting that the 22nd and last place was given to Team Bianchi, which the Professional Cycling Council permitted as the successor to Team Coast, keeping all of Team Coast's Grand Tour entry privileges.

The A.S.O. also pointed out that it has "completely respected the regulations applicable to the participation of teams in the Grand Tours (article 2.6.003bis)."

"Concerning the possibility of adding a 23rd team, ASO gave itself an additional period of time to reflect on the final intervening factors since May 19. Nonetheless, it has concluded that this decision, besides being contrary to the rules governing professional cycling... would have compromised the security of the race and the quality of the organisation."

"Nonetheless, it has concluded that this decision, besides being contrary to the rules governing professional cycling... would have compromised the security of the race and the quality of the organisation."

Toot Away Spoiler!!!!n.m.

CaliforniaDreamingJun 2, 2003 9:58 AM

can't join Bianchi like everyone else left out? ;-) nm

DougSloanJun 2, 2003 10:03 AM

THATS A SPOILER!!!!

ClydeTriJun 2, 2003 10:04 AM

We should have waited til the tour started and noticed he wasnt racing to find out! Fie on you for spoiling it all! :~)

BAi9302010Jun 2, 2003 12:06 PM

... would have compromised the security of the race and the quality of the organisation."

Not allowing Cipo's team to ride is what really compromised the quality of the organization. Hopefully the UCI will step in eventually and change this whole corrupt system around so that Leblanc has no control of the teams that get to ride. The top 22 teams on the UCI list should recieve spots because they proved that they're the best. I'm sure that even the French public would rather see Cipo ride than a bunch of second-rate riders who happen to be of the same nationality as them and who have a 99.99% chance of not producing good results, because I know I'd rather watch a soccer match with Zinadine Zidan than some inferior American players who don't have a shot at winning.

Cipo definite no go for tour

ClydeTriJun 2, 2003 1:06 PM

The race belongs to the TdF people..if UCI dictates who gets in, and whatnot..it becomes their race....

Cipo definite no go for tour

BAi9302010Jun 2, 2003 4:25 PM

It is an international race. A French rider hasn't won it in almost 20 years. I don't think that the UCI should pick the teams, I think that the 22 highest ranked teams are the ones who should get the invites.

Cipo definite no go for tour

russw19Jun 2, 2003 5:19 PM

Not to stir the pot, but do you think the same for the Giro and the Vuelta? The only race the UCI dictates is the World's, which is the only international race. The Tour de France is France's race. And as much as I may not like J-M Leblanc's decisions, I actually remember a few of the Tours before he took over. If you think it is corrupt now, you should look into it's history.

The thing is that nobody cares that the Giro is dominated by Italian teams or that the Vuelta is dominated by Spanish teams. But the Tour, well it needs to be international first because it's big. What about the French standpoint of it needs to be French first because it's French? Do we need to invite the World League Football Champion to the Super Bowl because it's the biggest there is? Do we need to offer up a spot in the baseball playoffs to the top Cuban and Japanese teams? No! Why, because the damn Super Bowl and World Series is OURS! Is it enough that we let Canadian teams into the WORLD Series?

The Tour de France is a domestic race! It's not an international race, and that doesn't change just because it's big or they start it in other countries sometimes. It's not the Tour de Europe, but of France. Again, I am not big on some of J-M Leblanc's choices on who gets to play, but I have to give the guy one thing... it is his sandbox.

That said, Cipo and Dominca Vacanze should be there. They are a better draw than some of the 2nd div. French teams to me. But I live in Florida and would rather watch Cipo than some of the riders from some of the smaller teams. But those guys are heros in their hometowns, and if the tour goes thru them... the people turn out. I can't say the same for myself because I will be waking to it on OLN. I won't be there.

End of rant for the day...

Russ

Cipo definite no go for tour

reklarJun 2, 2003 11:01 PM

Seems like the people in those towns will come out regardless of whether there local hero is riding. What upstanding frenchman doesn't want to see Cipollini, Armstrong, et al, when they come through their small town? I can't think that it is revenue...it seems like it is just pure nationalism on the part of LeBlanc and LeBlanc only.

zidane...

reklarJun 2, 2003 10:56 PM

As good as Zidane is, he didn't perform well in the last world cup. The U.S. actually did a lot better than france in '02!